News

Topline results from a Phase 2 trial of  Ra Pharma’s zilucoplan (previously known as RA101495), a potential self-administered therapy for patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG), showed a statistically significant decrease in markers of disease severity, achieving both its primary objectives. All the trial participants completed the 12-week treatment; 98 percent of…

The gut microbiome of people with myasthenia gravis is less diverse than that of healthy people, with a rise in pro-inflammatory bacteria and a reduction in protective molecules, a new study shows. The study, “Altered Gut Microbiota in Myasthenia Gravis,” was published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.

Prograf (tacrolimus) suppressed the proliferation and inflammatory responses of specific immune cells collected from patients with MuSK-antibody positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG), a new study. These results provide early evidence of Prograf’s potential in treating this type of MG. The study, “Tacrolimus inhibits Th1 and Th17…

Myasthenia gravis (MG) onset is more common in men ages 40-70 than in women in the same age range. There are also gender differences in the incidence of MG-related manifestations and comorbid autoimmune diseases, according to a new study. This finding is in contrast to the higher prevalence of…

Use of rituximab can reverse myasthenia gravis-like symptoms in cancer patients being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors like Opdivo or Yervoy, a case study reports. The study, “Rituximab as initial therapy for the reversal of myasthenia gravis neurotoxicity caused by ipilimumab/nivolumab” was published in the journal Neuro-Oncology and presented at the…

A microRNA called miR-143, which blocks a molecule involved in the development and severity of myasthenia gravis, may be a new therapeutic target, according to a mouse study. The study, “MicroRNA-143 inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of thymocyte by targeting CXCL13 in myasthenia gravis mice models,” was…

Changes in the ratio of dendritic cells (DCs), a subtype of immune cells, may reflect immune system function and could help predict treatment effectiveness in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a new study. The study, “Imbalance of two main circulating dendritic cell subsets in…

Intolerable adverse events related to the use of prednisone, typically used to treat myasthenia gravis (MG), were more frequently reported by women than men, a study finds. The study, “Gender differences in prednisone adverse effects,” was published in the journal Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. Prednisone is…

With the U.S. midterm elections now less than two weeks away, patient advocacy groups are solidly focused on a range of hot-button issues, from the Orphan Drug Tax Creditand affordable health insurance to future funding for rare disease research. Yet “whether Democrats take over the House or Senate, or…

Long-term respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) is a safe, feasible therapy that, in combination with conventional treatment, improves respiratory endurance and general well-being of people with mild to moderate myasthenia gravis. The findings were reported in a study titled “Effects of long-term respiratory muscle endurance training on respiratory…